Best Fixed Blade Knives Review: A Survivalist’s Guide

How to Select the Best Fixed Blade Knives to Carry

Finding the best, fixed blade knives to carry is a decision that shouldn’t be taken lightly. For one thing, most survival knives (the good ones, anyway) aren’t exactly cheap. If you’re investing in a piece of gear, you’ll want to be sure it will get the job done when the time comes. Your survival knife will be your lifeline when SHTF, so you need to do your research.

The fixed blade is a straightforward knife, and it doesn’t have any bells or whistles. If you do the research, you can find them for very reasonable prices. The blade usually runs about six inches, and the knife usually weighs somewhere around seven to eight ounces, measuring between 10 to 11 inches in overall length.

So, where do you start when trying to find the best fixed blade survival knives? Which one’s the best? What’s a reasonable price?

Here are a few things to consider before buying a fixed blade knife:

It should be made to be strong.

It should be sturdy. The newest fixed blade knife offers a rubber handle, which provides for a better grip making it easier to work within various types of weather or under different hunting circumstances.

It should be dependable. The best fixed blade knives have blades that can be changed, so even though you can only use one blade at a time, you can carry a variety of blades with you. For example, if you are hunting larger animals, a heavier blade may be desirable. To cut through a thick hide, the heavier blade is needed. A serrated edged blade may help saw through an animal’s bones, and other special blades may help in removing the skin.

Now, there’s something you need to do before you EVER walk into a store or go to Amazon. Read this list of seven of the BEST fixed blade knives that’ll never fail you in a life-and-death survival situation.

7 Best Fixed Blade Knives That Are Worth Every Penny

1. Benchmade HK Feint – RRP $75.23

SPECS:

9.5″

Overall Length

14.5″

Blade Width

1 3/8″

Weight (Knife Only)

11.2 oz

Blade Steel

440C

Grip Material

Santoprene

Blade Shape

Drop Point

Guard Type

Half, Molded into the grip

Blade Grind

Saber

False Edge

No

Blade Thickness

3/16″

Spine “Jimping”

No

Choil

Yes

Lanyard Hole

Yes

Made in

USA

BEST FOR:

Chopping

Skinning

Self-defense

Batoning

The Benchmade HK Fient may just be one the best benchmade knife ever. Benchmade knives can be pricey, but once you see the quality, you’ll understand why. Whether you’re cutting the cord, chopping wood or using it as a self-defense knife, this will get the job done. Check out our review.

2. Browning Ignite – RRP $33.27

SPECS:

Blade Length

4″

Overall Length

8 1/2″

Blade Width

1 1/8″

Weight (Knife Only)

5.2 oz

Blade Steel

7Cr

Grip Material

Polymer, with rubber insert

Blade Shape

Drop Point

Guard Type

Half, Molded into the tang

Blade Grind

Hollow

False Edge

Yes

Blade Thickness

0.15″

Spine “Jimping”

Jimped Thumb Ramp

Choil

Yes

Lanyard Hole

Yes

Made in

China

BEST FOR:

Trimming/sharpening/smoothing wood

Firemaking

Chopping food

Don’t let the price fool you; the Browning Ignite is a great knife for its price point and size. Whether you’re fishing, building a shelter or starting a fire, you can’t go wrong with this compact fixed blade knife. Check out the full review and form an opinion for yourself.

3. The Hoffman-Richter Wolf – RRP $99.95

The Hoffman-Richter Wolf knife is made of a 5.5mm thick piece of the best 440C stainless steel on the market, and the ultra-tough titanium coating guarantees The Wolf will last a lifetime. This is the knife I personally carry, and it’s the most badass blade I’ve ever strapped to my hip. The specs speak for themselves:

Full tang construction, making this knife virtually unbreakable

Fixed edge so you never need to worry about moving parts breaking or wearing out

Straight edge drop point blade, so that every inch of the blade stays razor sharp and usable (no serrations to become dull and useless)

9″ Overall Length, my preferred size for universal use

4″ 5.5 MM Thick Blade (that’s just shy of 1/4″) it’s hard to find a full tang fixed blade with this thickness

Ultra Tough Titanium Coating to make this knife even stronger

Still, don’t believe me? Check out this video:

4. Ontario RAT-5 – RRP $78.23

SPECS:

Blade Length

5″

Overall Length

10 1/2″

Blade Width

1 1/2″

Weight (Knife Only)

11.1 oz

Blade Steel

1095

Grip Material

Micarta

Blade Shape

Clip Point

Guard Type

Half, Molded into the tang and grip

Blade Grind

Flat

False Edge

No

Blade Thickness

0.19″

Spine “Jimping”

Yes

Choil

Yes (Both)

Lanyard Hole

Yes

BEST FOR:

Bushcraft

Firemaking

Trimming wood

The 1095 carbon steel on the Ontario RAT-5 makes it durable, sharp and long-lasting, and the knife is still an affordable choice. This is a great knife for bushcraft, and you will have no problem using it to perform a variety of outdoor and survival tasks. Click here for our full review.

5. Buck/Hood Punk – RRP $157.95

SPECS:

Blade Length

5 5/8″

Overall Length

11″

Blade Width

1 3/16″

Weight (Knife Only)

7.5 oz

Blade Steel

5160

Grip Material

Micarta

Blade Shape

Clip Point

Guard Type

Half, Molded into the tang

Blade Grind

Flat

False Edge

No

Blade Thickness

0.18″

Spine “Jimping”

No

Choil

Yes

Lanyard Hole

Yes

BEST FOR:

Bushcraft

Building shelter

Drilling

Chopping food

If you’re looking for a sturdy, reliable bush knife, the Buck/Hood Punk is hard to beat. Don’t let the price tag deter you because this knife is worth every penny. Read our review here.

6. Kabar BK&T Machax – RRP $93.57

SPECS:

Blade Length

9 3/8″

Overall Length

14 5/8″

Blade Width

2″

Weight (Knife Only)

15.7 oz

Blade Steel

1095 Cro-Van

Grip Material

Zytel

Blade Shape

Kukri

Guard Type

Half, Molded into the grip

Blade Grind

Saber

False Edge

Yes

Blade Thickness

0.188″

Spine “Jimping”

No

Choil

No

Lanyard Hole

Yes

Made in

USA

BEST FOR:

Building shelter

Cutting cord

Trimming/sharpening/smoothing wood

This is a sturdy, manly knife, and it’s as functional as it is cool to look at. Whether batoning wood, starting a fire or building other weapons, you’ll never go wrong with this knife. Check out the full review.

7. Ontario RTAK-II – RRP $200

SPECS:

Blade Length

10.5″

Overall Length

17″

Blade Width

2″

Weight (Knife Only)

22.6 oz

Blade Steel

5160

Grip Material

Micarta

Blade Shape

Drop Point

Guard Type

Half, Molded into the tang and grip

Blade Grind

Flat

False Edge

No

Blade Thickness

0.2″

Spine “Jimping”

No

Choil

Sort of

Lanyard Hole

Yes

Made in

USA

BEST FOR:

Firemaking

Shelter construction

Batoning

The Ontario RTAK-II is a solid, affordable choice for a field knife, and it’s especially good for chopping wood and fire making. You can also use it to build a survival shelter or animal trap as this knife excels at trimming branches and cutting wood. Read our full review.

Check out this video from Howcast to find out what are the best self-defense knives out there:

[embedded content]

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: a survivalist is only as good as his tools. There’s one tool that is ESSENTIAL to have, not only in your BOB (Bug Out Bag) but also as an everyday carry. A good knife, specifically a full tang constructed fixed blade knife, is necessary for all bug out bags. We sure hope we pointed you to the direction of the best fixed blade knives for you!

Do you have a knife to add? Did we leave out your favorite blade? Let us know in the comments!